SZ2 


Proceedings  of  the  Great  Mass 
Meeting  in  Favor  of  the  Union, 
Held  in  the  City  of  San  Fran- 
cisco on  Washington !s  Birthday, 
February  22,1861 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 

AT   LOS  ANGELES 


ROBERT  ERNEST  COWAN 


PROCEED  IlSr&S 


OF    THE 


GREAT  MASS  MEETING, 


IN 


FAVOR  OF  THE  UNION, 


HELD   IN 


THE  CITY  OF  SAN  FRANCISCO, 


ON 


WASHINGTON'S  BIRTHDAY, 

FEBRUARY  22d,  1861, 


SAN  FRANCISCO : 
PRINTED  AT  THE  ALT  A  CALIFORNIA  JOB  OFFICE,  124  SACRAMENTO  STREET. 

1861. 


»  .j 


UNION  MEETING,  SAN  FRANCISCO. 


PRELIMINARY  PROCEEDINGS,  FEBRUARY  20,  1861. 


JB@-SPECIAL  NOTICE.— RESOLUTION  No.  1061.— Resolved, 
that  the  President  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors  be  respectfully  request- 
^   ed  to  call  a  meeting  of  citizens,  at  such  time  as  he  may  deem  proper, 
J2  for  the  purpose  of  making  arrangements  for  holding  a  Mass  Meeting  of 
..  the  People  of  San  Francisco,  to  give  public  expression  of  their  sense  of 
as  the  value  and  desire  for  the  preservation  of  the  Federal  Union. 
gc       In  Board  of  Supervisors,  San  Francisco,  Feb.  18,   1861,  adopted  by 
— i  unanimous  vote. 

In  accordance  with  the  above  Resolution,  I  hereby  cordially  invite 
all  citizens  favorable  to  sentiments  expressed  therein,  to  meet  this  day, 
at  3  o'clock  p.  M.,  in  the  rooms  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors,  for  the 
purpose  of  taking  the  necessary  steps  to  hold  a  UNION  MASS  MEETING, 
at  as  early  a  day  as  possible.  H.  F.  TESCHEMACHER, 

February  20,  1861.  President  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors. 


Pursuant  to  the  foregoing  Resolution  and  call,  the  citizens 
of  San  Francisco  assembled  at  the  Rooms  of  the  Board  of 
Supervisors,  in  the  City  Hall,  on  the  afternoon  of  Wednesday, 
February  20,  1861. 

PRESIDENT  TESCHEMACHER  called  the  meeting  to  order,  and 
said — 

I  presume  it  is  hardly  necessary  to  explain  the  objects  which 
have  brought  us  together.  It  is  to  take  the  preliminary  steps 


to  call  a  meeting  of  the  citizens  of  San  Francisco,  to  express 
their  sentiments  on  the  question  of  the  union  or  disunion  of 
these  United  States.  The  first  steps  taken  will  be  to  elect 
officers  of  this  meeting. 

F.  M.  HAIGHT,  ESQ.,  was  then  unanimously  elected  President. 

MR.  HAIGHT,  on  taking  the  chair,  said : 

The  President  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors  has  stated  to  you 
the  general  objects  of  the  meeting.  It  is  for  you  now  to  indi- 
cate the  mode  in  which  you  will  proceed  by  the  appointment 
of  Committees  and  so  forth. 

HENRY  J.  WELLS,  ESQ.,  was  then  nominated  and  elected 
Secretary. 

On  motion,  it  was  unanimously  resolved,  that  a  PUBLIC  MASS 
MEETING,  should  be  held  on  the  22d  day  of  February,  Wash- 
ington's Birthday,  by  the  citizens  of  San  Francisco,  in  favor 
of  the  Union. 

On  motion  of  HORACE  HAWES,  it  was  resolved  that  a  com- 
mittee of  five  on  General  Arrangements,  and  a  committee  of 
seven  on  Resolutions,  be  appointed. 

The  following  gentlemen  were  appointed  on  said  commit- 
tees: 

Committee  of  Arrangements. — H.  F.  Teschemacher,  (chair- 
man,) E.  W.  Burr,  John  Middleton,  J.  D.  Stevenson,  D.  M. 
Gazlay. 

Committee  on  Resolutions. — Horace  Hawes,  (chairman,)  Delos 
Lake,  Frank  M.  Pixley,  Eugene  Casserly,  Annis  Merrill,  A.  D. 
Hatch,  G.  W.  Ryckman. 

On  motion  of  A.  D.  Hatch,  the  name  of  Philip  A.  Roach 
was  added  to  the  Committee  of  Arrangements. 
The  meeting  thereupon  adjourned  to  the  22d  of  February. 

F.  M.  HAIGHT,  Chairman. 
HENRY  J.  WELLS,  Secretary. 


PROCEEDINGS 


OP   THE 


Mass  Meeting  on  22d  of  February. 


THE  PLACE  OF  MEETING. 

The  place  designated  by  the  Committees  for  the  meeting  was 
in  the  wide  space  or  gore  formed  by  the  junction  of  Market, 
Montgomery  and  Post  streets,  in  the  very  heart  of  the  city,  and 
affording  room  for  thirty  thousand  people  at  least.  It  is  sur- 
rounded by  a  cordon  of  buildings,  mostly  of  large  size,  and  is 
a  sort  of  plaza,  admirably  adapted  to  the  purpose.  The  Mar- 
ket street  Railroad,  of  course,  traverses  it ;  but  the  proprietors 
permitted  no  cars  to  be  run  through  during  the  time  of  the 
meeting. 

THE  ORATORS'  STAND. 

The  stand  from  which  the  multitude  was  addressed  was 
erected  by  order  of  the  Committee,  in  the  western  portion  of 
the  space  above  described,  and  close  up  to  the  eastern  end  of 
the  angular  building  forming  the  junction  of  Market  and  Post 
streets.  It  was  supported  by  frame  work,  was  about  twelve 
feet  high,  and  forty  by  thirty  feet  in  extent.  Access  was  had 
by  a  flight  of  steps  on  the  northern  side,  and  a  stout  railing 
was  built  around  the  platform,  above  which  rose  a  series  of 


6 

pillars,  supporting  largely  printed  mottoes,  so  placed  as  to 
meet  the  eye  from  every  direction.  Some  of  these  were  as 
follows : 

On  the  southern  side : 


GOD    SAVE   THE    UNION. 


On  the  northern  side  : 


UNION    THERE    IS   STRENGTH. 


And  below  : 

"  REPUBLICANISM,    DEMOCRACY,  AND  EVERY   j 
OTHER   POLITICAL    NAME    OR   THING,  IS  SUB- 
ORDINATE TO  THE    UNION.      SO  FAR  AS  I  AM 
CONCERNED  IT  SHALL  BE  SO." 

On  the  front  or  eastern  side  were  pictures  of  WASHINGTON, 
JACKSON,  CLAY  and  WEBSTER,  the  frames  of  which  were  com- 
posed of  festoons  of  red,  white  and  blue,  very  tastefully 
arranged,  above  which,  in  mammoth  letters,  appeared  : 

"THE  UNION,  THE  WHOLE  UNION,  AND  NOTH- 
ING BUT  THE  UNION." — Webster. 

«««*=»?=5*=*; 

And  below : 

"  LIBERTY    AND  UNION,  NOW  AND  FOREVER, 
ONE    AND   INSEPARABLE." Webster. 

Above  the  stand  towered  a  lofty  flagstaff,  raised  for  the  occa- 
sion, and  wreathed  with  red,  white  and  blue,  from  the  top  of 
which  waved  the  stars  and  stripes.  The  arrangements  had 
been  made  with  great  care  and  celerity,  and  the  committee  who 
took  the  matter  in  hand,  have  shown  that  they  were  the  right 
men  in  the  right  place  for  the  occasion. 

Everywhere  around  the  stand  the  houses  were  hung  with 
American  flags. 


7 

By  two  o'clock,  thousands  had  gathered  in  front  of  the  stand, 
pressing  forward  to  obtain  good  positions  from  which  to  listen 
to  the  speaking  and  reading  of  the  eagerly  expected  Union 
resolutions.  Soon  after,  the  sound  of  music  was  heard,  and 
the  head  of  the  column,  marching  eight  deep,  was  seen  coming 
at  a  quick  step,  up  Montgomery  street,  headed  by  the  Band  of 
the  U.  S.  3d  Artillery,  playing  Washington's  March ;  the  street 
and  sidewalks  perfectly  jammed  with  people,  shouting  and 
cheering  in  the  wildest  enthusiasm,  the  windows  and  balconies 
along  the  route  filled  with  ladies  and  children  ;  even  the  tops 
of  the  houses  held  their  quota  of  spectators.  Cheer  upon  cheer 
arose  as  the  procession  moved  rapidly  onward,  every  man 
seemed  to  consider  it  his  province  to  do  his  part  in  swelling 
the  great  shout  for  our  national  Union. 

As  the  procession  reached  the  platform,  the  great  gathering 
assumed  a  shape  and  dimensions  such  as  the  most  enthusiastic 
had  not  reckoned  upon.  The  numbers,  constantly  augmenting, 
gradually  increased  until  the  outside  ones  could  have  had  but 
little  hope  of  hearing  the  speakers.  By  the  close  of  the  meet 
ing — for  the  accessions  were  constant  during  the  whole  two 
hours — at  least  fourteen  thousand  persons  were  congregated,  full 
of  unalterable  love  and  enthusiasm  for  the  Union,  and  eager  to 
pledge  California  to  the  galaxy  of  Union-loving  States. 

ORGANIZATION  OF  THE  MEETING. 

Shortly  after  two  o'clock,  Mr.  Teschemacher,  President  of 
the  Board  of  Supervisors,  came  forward  and  said  : 

Fellow-citizens  of  San  Francisco,  we  have  met  here  to  cele- 
brate the  anniversary  of  Washington's  birthday  _by  a  Mass 
Meeting,  at  which  to  testify  our  devotion  to  the  Union  and  the 
Constitution.  In  order  to  organise  the  meeting,  I  propose  to 
you  the  name  of  Eugene  Casserly,  Esq.,  as  President. 

Mr.  Casserly  was  elected  presiding  officer,  and  the  following 
additional  officers  were  chosen  : 

Vice  Presidents. — H.  F.  Teschemacher,  Ogden  Hoffman,  John 
S.  Hagar,  Edward  Stanly,  J.  B.  Crockett,  M.  C.  Blake,  B.  W. 
Hathaway,  S.  R.  Throckmorton,  Jacob  R.  Snyder,  John  A. 


8 

Monroe,  J.  B.  Thomas,  Albert  Dibblee,  J.  W.  Mandeville, 
Thomas  J,  Selby,  D.  J.  Tallant,  S.  C.  Field,  Alexander  Camp- 
bell, Louis  McLane,  J.  P.  Hoge,  S.  R.  Harris,  M.  D.,  F.  M. 
Haight,  Charles  S.  Biden,  J.  S.  Davies,  H.  L.  Dodge,  James 
Otis,  Eugene  Crowell,  James  Donahue. 

Secretaries. — Henry  J.  "Wells,  A.  D.  Grimwood.  H.  G.  Worth- 
ington  and  0.  P.  Sutton. 

Mr.  Casserly  took  the  stand,  and  being  introduced  by  Mr. 
Teschemacher,  spoke  as  follows  : 

Mr.  Casserly's  Speech. 

FRIENDS  AND  FELLOW   CITIZENS  : — 

The  sight  of  this  vast  concourse  of  the  people,  unexampled 
in  San  Francisco  for  its  numbers,  its  earnestness,  its  weight 
in  all  respects,  proves  to  the  most  indifferent  spectator  that  it 
is  no  common  purpose  which  has  brought  it  together.  In  truth, 
no  higher  summons  can  ever  be  delivered  to  a  free  people  than 
that  which  has  called  us  here — to  declare  at  this  time  our 
unfaltering  devotion  to  the  Union  and  the  Constitution,  (cheers,) 
and  our  profound  solicitude  for  the  speedy  restoration  of  peace, 
unity,  and  all  fraternal  and  political  relations  between  all 
the  people  and  all  the  States  of  our  country.  (Cheers.)  For 
such  a  duty,  what  more  fitting  day  than  this  anniversary  of 
the  birth  of  George  Washington?  (Cheers.) 

No  one  who  reflects  can  fail  to  perceive,  that  the  country  at 
this  moment  is  passing  through  the  crisis  of  her  destiny. 
However  painful  the  conviction,  it  is  irresistible  to  every  intel- 
ligent mind.  The  great  calamity  against  which  Washington 
lifted  up  his  voice  of  most  solemn  warning,  the  dread  of  which 
clouded  the  closing  day  of  Jefferson's  illustrious  life,  and  which 
every  good  man  has  prayed  he  might  never  live  to  behold — has 
fallen  upon  the  American  people.  States  have  seceded  from 
our  Union.  Many  other  States  are  deeply  disturbed  by  the 
question  of  sf cession.  In  some  States  the  authority  of  the 
Federal  Government  and  Constitution  is  practically  over- 
thrown. The  crisis  is  without  parallel  or  analogy  in  our  his- 
tory and  in  all  history.  The  ordinary  means  and  resources 
of  government  fail  utterly  to  reach  it.  However  opinions 
may  differ  as  to  the  merits  of  the  sad  controversy,  no  one  who 
comprehends  fully  the  emergency,  who  wisely  loves  his  coun- 
try, and  who  knows  the  temper  of  our  people,  especially  in 


9 

those  States  which  are  disturbed,  can  fail  to  see  that  it  is  a 
crisis  in  which  moderation,  forbearance,  and  concession  on  all 
sides,  are  the  part  of  true  wisdom  and  genuine  patriotism. 

Whatever  has  occurred,  or  may  occur  in  those  States,  or  in 
any  of  them,  let  us  try  never  to  forget  that  the  people  of  them 
are  not  strangers  or  aliens,  but  our  countrymen,  our  brethren 
— of  the  same  stock,  the  same  speech,  the  same  great  nation- 
ality. Here  in  California,  most  especially,  having  a  popu- 
lation drawn  from  all  the  States  of  the  Union,  whatever  mad- 
ness rules  the  hour  elsewhere,  we  never  must  give  up  the  hope 
and  the  duty  of  a  peaceable  settlement.  (Applause.)  That  such 
a  settlement  will  be  accomplished,  I  believe,  with  an  unswerv- 
ing faith.  In  the  darkest  hour,  when  it  seemed  as  if  the  whole 
fabric  of  government  was  about  to  crumble  to  the  dust.  I  held 
fast  to  this  faith.  And  now,  what  do  we  see  ?  But  yesterday 
a  sudden  gleam  of  light  flashed  upon  us  from  the  Eastern  skies. 
The  State  of  Virginia  has  spoken.  Virginia,  never  so  great 
as  in  the  greatest  crisis  of  the  country, — which  in  the  last 
emergency  has  never  yet  been  found  wanting  to  the  cause  of 
constitutional  freedom  and  order — Virginia  has  cast  her  decisive 
weight  on  the  side  of  honorable  adjustment  and  the  Union. 
That  illustrious  commonwealth  gave  to  the  country  not  only  a 
Washington,  but  she  gave  also  men  like  Jefferson  and  Madison, 
without  whose  clear  and  capacious  minds  to  shape  and  establish 
our  free  institutions,  the  sword  of  Washington  might  have 
been  drawn  almost  in  vain.  It  is  our  duty,  as  a  portion  of 
the  people  of  California,  by  our  voice  and  our  example,  to 
do  whatever  we  can  to  strengthen  her  hands  in  her  noble 
efforts  to  restore  and  preserve  the  Union.  Most  certainly  we 
must  do  nothing  to  increase  the  difficulties  of  her  great  under- 
taking. (Applause.) 

The  right  of  secession,  as  a  right  under  the  Constitution  and 
laws  of  the  Union,  is  a  right  impossible  to  be  admitted.  (Ap- 
plause.) In  my  humble  judgment,  it  is  a  right  incompatible 
not  only  with  the  existence  of  the  Federal  Government,  but, 
in  its  principle,  is  incompatible  with  any  Government  what- 
ever. In  these  times,  in  this  State,  the  advocacy  of  such  a 
right  is  worse  than  useless.  In  like  manner,  I  have  seen  with 
amazement  and  sorrow  in  California,  the  notion  promulgated, 
that,  because  unhappily,  one  or  more  States  have  seceded  or 
may  secede,  the  Union  is  therefore  dissolved,  and  the  Consti- 
tution destroyed.  (Shouts  of  "Never !  never  !  never !")  I  join 
in  your  emphatic  denial  of  this  doctrine.  It  is  unfounded,  and 
in  this  State  is  revolutionary.  In  the  name  of  Washington, 


10 

and  Jefferson,  and  Madison,  we  reject  the  idea.  Those  great 
men  were  masters  in  their  day  and  generation,  and  not  ap- 
prentices. They  knew  what  work  they  had  to  do.  They 
never  so  did  it  as  that  it  would  fall  to  pieces  at  the  first 
assault.  They  and  their  fellow-laborers  framed  the  Union 
and  the  Constitution,  and  they  framed  them  to  endure.  They 
will  endure.  (Applause.)  Those  living  forms  of  our  liberties 
are  not  so  frail  as  thus,  or  yet,  to  perish — 

"  Spirits  that  live  throughout, 
Vital  in  every  part        *        * 
Cannot,  but  by  annihilating,  die." 

(Applause.)  The  people  of  all  the  States  adopted  and  estab- 
lished the  Constitution  and  the  Union.  What  power  can  dis- 
solve the  Union  ?  None  on  this  earth,  but  that  which  created 
it — the  will  of  the  people  of  all  the  States.  (Great  applause.) 
Until  their  fiat  goes  forth,  the  Union  can  never  be  dissolved ; 
unless  "  the  great  globe  itself  and  all  which  it  inherit  shall 
dissolve."  (Renewed  applause.) 

It  is  well  for  us  that  it  is  so  ;  for  us  who  mean  to  adhere  to 
the  Union,  and  not  less  so  for  those  who  purpose  to  withdraw 
from  it.  It  will  stand  for  us  and  for  them  in  its  grandeur  and 
its  strength,  and  its  beneficence,  to  await  the  day  of  their 
return  within  its  ample  pale.  Let  its  portals  remain  open, 
wide  open,  for  their  homeward  returning  feet !  And  when  that 
day  comes,  as  come  it  surely  will,  we  shall  welcome  them  all 
with  the  sound  of  bells  and  of  cannon  throughout  the  land  ; 
with  Te  Deum  and  Hosanna  in  all  the  churches;  with  tears  and 
joy,  with  exultation  before  man  and  gratitude  to  God.  Let 
there  not  be  on  our  part  a  single  act  to  postpone  or  to  cast  a 
shade  upon  the  glory  and  happiness  of  that  coming  day.  (Ap- 
plause.) 

Meantime,  and  at  all  times,  I  am  for  the  Union  and  the  flag. 
(Cheers.)  With  that  flag,  and  there  alone,  our  safety,  honor- 
and  duty  lie.  (Applause.)  Every  thread  of  it  has  been  ran, 
somed,  thrice  over,  by  the  best  blood  of  all  the  master  races 
of  this  world.  To  the  millions  of  Europe,  hoping  and  striving 
for  Ireedom,  amid  the  deepest  gloom  of  their  oppression,  it  has 
shone  in  the  western  sky  like  the  star  of  hope.  (Applause.) 
The  exile  from  the  banks  of  the  Rhine,  from  the  sunny 
Garonne,  from  the  broad  Shannon,  flies  hither  for  a  home 
under  its  folds ;  and  on  a  day  like  this,  of  general  patriotic 
observation,  he  hastens  with  pride  and  joy,  as  yonder,  to 
raise  the  trampled  emblem  of  his  nationality  beneath  its 
protecting  stripes  and  stars. 


11 

[Here  all  eyes  were  directed  to  the  lofty  liberty  pole  of  the 
Orphan  Asylum,  on  the  opposite  side  of  Market  street,  in  full 
view  of  the  meeting,  where  a  fine  American  flag  floated,  and 
below  it  a  Union  flag,  with  the  Irish  harp  on  a  green  ground.] 

It  has  never  yet,  in  the  world's  history,  retired  from  any 
war,  by  land  or  sea,  except  in  honor  and  in  triumph.  It  is 
the  sign,  the  seal,  the  pledge,  the  bond  of  American  nationality 
and  union.  Let  the  day  never  dawn,  when  they  and  it  shall 
perish  from  the  earth.  (Loud  and  prolonged  applause.) 

With  these  views,  I  need  hardly  say  to  you.  that  I  am  for 
California  IN  the  Union.  (Loud  cries  of  "  good !  good  !"  and 
three  cheers.)  I  am  unalterably  against  all  movements  or  specu- 
lations for  detaching  her  from  the  Union.  (Renewed  cheering.) 
I  can  think  of  no  event  as  possible,  in  which  such  a  step  would 
be  profitable  or  proper.  (Loud  Applause.) 

We  are  here  upon  a  land,  of  which  Putnam,  and  Allen,  and 
Marion,  and  many  another  of  the  stout  captains  of  the  Revolu- 
tion, perhaps  never  heard,  and  over  which  none  of  them,  in 
his  wildest  visions  of  American  greatness,  ever  saw  our  eagles 
soar.  Though  remote  from  the  great  events  of  the  time,  we 
are  not  indifferent  to  them.  Rather,  from  our  very  distance, 
we  gain  a  just  perspective  of  them.  Our  faces  are  to  the 
Pacific  main  and  the  western  sun,  but  our  hearts  are  with 
the  Union  forever.  (Cheers.)  We  never  will  give  up  our 
part  and  lot  in  that  Union  for  the  dangerous  distinction  of 
an  isolated,  ricketty  republic  of  the  Pacific.  (Great  applause.) 

I  am  an  AMERICAN  CITIZEN.  The  first  lesson  my  dawning 
reason  learned  from  a  father's  lips  was,  that  no  class,  or  rank, 
or  order,  in  any  country,  could  give  me  a  title  prouder  than 
that.  The  enthusiasm  of  youth  and  the  judgment  of  manhood 
have  confirmed  the  precept.  In  that  name  are  my  hope  and 
my  faith.  I  never  will  surrender  it,  that  I  may  decline  upon 
some  petty  provincial  appellation.  (Long  and  continued  ap- 
plause.) 

I  have  expressed  to  you  imperfectly  a  few  of  the  thoughts 
which  suggested  themselves  to  me  in  the  brief  period  since  I 
was  notified  yesterday  of  this  meeting.  A  word  more. 

Remembering  the  occasion,  the  day,  the  man  whom  we  love 
to  honor  on  this  and  on  all  days,  let  us  try  to  do  what  we  are 
here  to  do,  as  Washington  himself  could  have  wished — in  kind- 
ness, in  conciliation,  in  fraternal  loyalty.  Surrounded  by  all 
the  hallowing  memories  of  this  anniversary  and  the  solemn 
exigencies  of  the  time,  let  us  try  to  do  it  in  his  spirit.  Of  all 
the  great  men  of  the  world,  the  judgment  of  history  concern- 


12 

ing  him  is,  and  will  be,  that  in  his  relations  as  a  citizen,  a 
soldier  and  a  statesman,  he  never  yielded  to  a  narrow  nor  a 
sectional  thought.  Great  as  he  was  in  all  things,  he  was 
in  nothing  so  great  as  in  this  ;  that  he  gave  the  whole  of 
his  large  heart,  of  his  glorious  life,  of  his  self-denying,  patient, 
wise  and  majestic  nature  to  his  whole  country  and  to  the  whole 
people  of  it,  in  all  the  sections  and  all  the  States,  without  dis- 
tinction of  race  or  creed,  or  party,  for  his  own  time  and  for- 
ever. (Enthusiastic  and  prolonged  applause.) 

The  Band  then  played  "  Hail  Columbia,"  when  the  Hon. 
Edward  Stanly  was  introduced,  and  spoke  as  follows  : 

Mr.  Stanly's  Speech. 

As  I  came  from  my  residence  this  morning,  the  sun  was 
shining  in  gorgeous  splendor  ;  my  heart  was  filled  with  grati- 
tude to  that  great  Being  who  makes  the  outgoings  of  the 
morning  and  evening  to  praise  Him  ;  and  my  soul  was  over- 
flowing with  exultation,  when  I  beheld  our  country's  flag  float- 
ing in  the  breeze,  from  the  mastheads  of  our  noble  ships  and 
the  tops  of  our  public  buildings. 

Involuntarily  the  lines  of  an  American  poet  rose  to  my  mem- 
ory, which  the  thousands  before  me  will  re-echo — 

"Flag  of  the  free  hearts'  only  home, 

By  angels  hands  to  valor  given, 
Thy  stars  have  lit  the  welkin  dome, 

And  all  thy  hues  were  born  in  Heaven. 
Forever  float  that  standard  sheet, 

Where  breathes  the  foe,  but  falls  before  us, 
With  freedom's  soil  beneath  our  feet, 

And  freedom's  banner  streaming  o'er  us." 

And  I  came  with  cheerful  spirit  to  perform  the  duty  assigned 
me  to-day. 

Fellow-Citizens  :  You  have  never  been  called  on  to  take 
part  in  any  matter  of  more  concern  to  the  State,  to  the  whole 
country,  nor  to  the  world,  than  that  which  is  the  subject  of 
your  consideration  to-day. 

Since  1776,  no  men  have  ever  been  called  on  to  deliberate 
upon  questions  of  more  magnitude  than  those  now  presented  to 
your  consideration. 

We  do  not  invite  the  people  here  to-day  to  discuss  abstract 
questions,  nor  to  consider  party  issues.  We  are  not  to  discuss 
the  policy  of  different  measures  recommended  by  different  party 
conventions,  whether  one  or  the  other  is  better  for  the  country ; 


13 

but  we  are  called  upon  to  say  whether  we  are  to  have  a  coun- 
try at  all.  (Applause.) 

We  are  so  highly  blessed  with  peace  and  prosperity  all  around 
us,  we  have  felt  so  favorably  the  happy  influences  of  the  Gen- 
eral Government,  our  minds  have  not  entertained  the  belief 
that  any  causes  could  exist  in  the  Eastern  States  to  justify 
them  in  destroying  the  best  form  of  government  ever  enjoyed 
by  man.  Our  hopes  had  influenced  us  to  shut  our  eyes  to  the 
danger.  The  evidences  have  multiplied  so  fast  for  some  weeks 
past  it  is  our  duty  no  longer  to  forbear  the  expression  of  our 
opinions. 

It  is  a  glorious  privilege  secured  to  us  by  the  Constitution — 
the  right  to  meet  together  and  consult  upon  the  state  of  public 
affairs.  Our  revolutionary  fathers  felicitated  themselves  that 
they  had  secured  us  this  great  privilege.  How  long  we  shall 
enjoy  it  no  man  can  tell,  if  the  madness  that  rule  some  portions 
of  our  Eastern  brethren  should  not  be  rebuked  by  the  voice  of 
the  people. 

Fellow  citizens,  in  the  few  words  I  shall  say,  I  desire  to  deal 
in  no  crimination.  I  do  not  wish  to  stir  up  the  ashes  of  party 
strife,  or  to  blame  any  party  for  the  condition  of  the  country. 
Far  from  it.  We  are  not  here  to-day  as  party  men.  We  come 
as  American  citizens  assembling  together  as  men  who  have 
great  obligations  resting  upon  them.  We  are  here  from  the 
North,  South,  East  and  West,  but  claiming  all  to  be  Americans. 
As  such  I  wish  to  address  you.  No  matter  whether  the  North 
or  the  South  is  to  blame  for  the  present  disastrous  state  of 
affairs — our  common  country  is  in  danger.  As  a  Southern  man, 
I  might  feel  disposed  to  throw  the  blame  from  my  people  ;  a 
Northern  man  would  think  differently.  But  how  shall  the 
patriot  be  discovered  ?  Who  is  ready  to  yield  some  claims 
not  sacrificing  principle,  for  the  public  good. 

Republicans  and  Democrats,  if  your  hearts  are  right,  the 
decision  will  be  such  as  to  bring  peace  to  this  distracted  land. 
How,  I  ask,  shall  the  politician  be  sunk  in  the  patriot  ?  Bv  a 
willingness  to  bear  and  forbear,  to  show  a  spirit  of  compromise 
and  conciliation,  and  rely  upon  the  sense  of  the  American  peo- 
ple, under  the  influence  of  Him,  who  maketh  men  to  be  of  one 
mind  in  an  house. 

I  will  tell  you  by  what  standard  I  would  try  the  patriotism 
of  public  men.  When  two  women  were  before  the  wisest  man 
that  ever  lived,  each  claiming  to  be  the  mother  of  a  child  then 
before  Solomon,  he  decided  that  the  child  should  be  cut  in  two 
parts,  and  given,  one  part  to  each  woman.  One  consented  ; 


14 

the  other,  in  agony  at  the  thought  of  harm  to  her  infant,  ex- 
claimed :  "0  my  Lord,  give  her  the  living  child,  and  in  no 
wise  slay  it !"  The  King  knew  that  nature  would  declare  the 
truth,  and  gave  the  child  to  the  woman  who  would  not  have  it 
slain.  (Applause.) 

Now,  Democrats  and  Republicans,  advocates  of  Popular  Sov- 
ereignty or  anti-Slavery  provisoes — who  will  yield  and  save 
our  country  from  the  division  of  the  sword  ?  The  American 
people  will  remember  the  result.  Who  will  play  the  Secess- 
ionist and  divide  with  the  sword  ?  or  who  will  yield  and  prove 
their  true  love  ? 

Fellow-citizens,  when  my  memory  reverts  to  our  Revolution- 
ary history  :  when  I  think  of  the  sacrifice  of  blood  and  treas- 
ure our  forefathers  made  in  securing  our  present  form  of 
government  ;  when  my  mind  dwells  on  the  innumerable  and 
inestimable  blessings  our  Union  has  confered  upon  mankind  ; 
I  confess,  I  am  overwhelmed  with  gratitude  to  that  Almighty 
God,  who  has  so  signally  blessed  our  hitherto  happy  country. 

I  have  no  time  to  dwell  upon  them.  They  are  familiar  to 
us  as  the  pure  and  exhilarating  atmosphere  we  breathe,  as  the 
rays  of  the  sun,  rejoicing  as  a  giant  to  run  his  course.  They 
are  so  familiar  we  have  not  been  grateful  for  them,  nor  thought 
enough  of  the  awful  calamities  to  follow  their  annihilation. 

If  I  were  to  pretend  to  describe  them,  I  should  want  the 
power  of  Joshua  to  stop  the  sun  in  his  course.  That  was 
done  but  once,  and  if  it  pleased  Divine  Goodness  to  allow  that 
miracle  again,  it  could  be  upon  no  more  important  affair  than 
that  which  now  demands  our  earnest  consideration.  Hear  but 
the  enumeration  of  a  few  of  them. 

Neither  Congress  nor  any  of  the  States  can  grant  any  title 
of  nobility. 

The  citizens  of  each  State  shall  be  entitled  to  all  privileges 
and  immunities  of  citizens  of  the  several  States. 

So  that,  a  man  born  in  any  one  State  has  the  privilege  of 
changing  his  residence  and  becoming  a  citizen  of  any  other 
State.  Not  only  so,  but  the  exile  from  foreign  lands,  becoming 
naturalized,  has  the  same  right  of  citizenship  in  any  one  of  the 
States  of  this  widely  extended  country.  Where  before,  in  the 
history  of  nations,  was  man  ever  endowed  with  such  privileg- 
es? How  proud  should  we  be  of  such  a  country  !  Look  at 
California  now  :  a  foreigner  by  birth  is  our  Governor,  dis- 
charging well  his  high  duties,  and  a  native  Californian  next  in 
position  to  him.  No  matter  where  born,  or  how  humble  his 


15 

origin,  an  honest  man  of  merit  can  attain  the  highest  station  in 
the  gift  of  our  people. 

Congress  can  make  no  law  respecting  an  establishment  of 
religion,  or  prohibiting  the  free  exercise  thereof,  or  abridging 
the  freedom  of  speech  or  of  the  press,  or  of  the  right  of  the 
people  peacefully  to  assemble  and  to  petition  the  Government 
for  a  redress  of  grievances. 

The  right  of  the  people  to  bear  arms  shall  not  be  infringed. 

Contrast  these  great  privileges  with  those  granted  to  the 
people  of  any  other  land,  and  how  great  should  be  our  pride 
and  gratitude  for  those  we  possess. 

Fellow.citizens,  all  those  great  rights  which  we  hold  for  our- 
selves, and  for  unborn  millions  of  our  fellow  men,  all  are  in 
danger. 

It  is  because  of  this  danger,  that  on  this,  the  birthday  of  the 
Father  of  his  Country,  we  are  here  assembled.  He  was 
the  chief  builder  of  the  magnificent  temple  of  Freedom  erected 
in  this  Western  world.  His  principles  are  embodied  in  our 
Constitution.  The  great  object  of  his  illustrious  life,  after  se- 
curing our  Independence,  was  to  make  our  Union  perfect.  His 
ambition  was  to  benefit  his  countrymen  and  bis  fellow  men  of 
all  nations,  kindred  and  tongues.  This  Union  he  not  only 
regarded  as  our  greatest  blessing,  but  as  the  great  treasure 
house  which  contained  them  all.  It  was  in  his  day  that  the 
rights  of  individual  man  were  advocated  and  established.  His 
great  name  is  universally^  revered  wherever  a  love  of  freedom 
inspires  the  Breast  of  a  patriot,  or  virtue  i&  respected  by  man. 
And  so  it  wall  ever  be  until  man  prefers  slavery  to  Freedom, 
despotism  toy.  Liberty.  So  will  it  ever  be/ until  Americans 
shall  prefer  \nonarchy  to  Republicanisnx  and  civil  war  to 
peaceful  UnionX.fApplause ) 

Fellow-citizens  of^he^mitlir-this^great  advocate  of  our  Con- 
stitutional Union  was  a  Southern  man.  If  you  cherish  his 
name,  and  venerate  his  character,  cherish  this  our  glorious 
Union.  He  fought  for  his  whole  country.  It  was  the  Union 
of  his  whole  country  he  struggled  to  serve. 

Fellow-citizens  of  the  North,  if  you  venerate  his  name,  re- 
member for  you  he  fought,  and  with  your  fathers  contended 
against  royal  power,  against  aristocracy,  orders  and  privileges, 
that  you  might  enjoy  the  blessings  of  Union. 

Men  of  the  North  and  South,  your  forefathers  fought  on 
Northern  and  Southern  soil.  The  Virginia  Washington  was 
fighting  in  the  North,  and  the  Rhode  Island  Greene  in  Georgia 
and  the  Carolinas. 


16 

On  this  day  it  is  proper,  also,  to  call  upon  our  adopted  citi- 
zens to  raise  their  voices  with  ours,  in  behalf  of  our  Constitu- 
tion and  Union. 

In  the  farewell  address  of  the  Father  of  his  Country,  he 
appealed  to  those  who  were  fellow-citizens  by  "birth  or  choice" 
of  a  common  country,  that  country  has  a  right  to  concentrate 
your  affections. 

Our  Union  was  achieved,  with  our  independence,  by  the 
joint  counsels  and  joint  efforts  by  the  common  dangers,  suffer- 
ings and  successes  of  citizens  by  birth  or  choice. 

Countrymen  of  Lafayette,  Montgomery,  De  Kalb,  Kosciusko, 
and  Pulaski,  this  Union  was  made  by  the  efforts  of  your  fathers 
joined  with  those  of  Washington  and  our  revolutionary  fathers. 
Millions  of  your  countrymen  will  rise  up  and  call  you  blessed, 
if  you  can  rescue  from  danger  what  they  suffered  so  much  to 
establish. 

Come  and  let  us  do  our  duty  to  their  memories,  and  neither 
life  nor  death,  nor  principalities,  nor  powers,  nor  things  present, 
things  to  come,  nor  any  other  creature  shall  be  able  to  separate 
us  from  the  inestimable  benefits  of  our  Union. 

I  confess  my  hope?  are  greater  than  my  fears.  From  what 
I  know  of  the  politicians  in  California,  I  think  there  are  few 
wicked  or  foolish  enough  to  desire  a  dissolution  of  this  Union. 

I  do  not  speak  or  feel  as  a  party  man  to-day,  but  as  one  who 
opposed  Lincoln,  Douglas  and  Breckinridge.  I  would  allow 
them  to  meet  together  and  decide  upon  what  their  countrymen 
should  do.  I  suppose  any  one  of  their  intelligent  supporters 
would  allow  John  Bell  to  adjust  our  national  troubles,  sooner 
than  see  this  Union  torn  asunder. 

Douglas — I  speak  to  his  honor — is  a  strong  Union  man.  It 
will  be  happiness  to  him  to  know  his  friends  here  are  devoted 
to  the  Union. 

Though  opposed  to  the  political  opinions  of  Breckinridge  I 
know  him  very  well  ;  as  a  patriot,  and  a  gentlemen  of  fine 
ability,  I  hold  him,  as  1  have  long  done,  in  high  regard. 

Even  his  political  opponents,  who  know  Mr.  Lincoln,  admit 
he  is  honest  and  patriotic. 

With  all  these  men  still  alive,  and  on  the  theatre  of  ac- 
tion, who  can  despair  of  the  Republic  1 

Beside  these  distinguished  men  there  stands  another,  last 
but  not  least,  side  by  side  with  the  patriot  Kentuckian,  Crit- 
tenden — I  mean  Governor  Seward.  He  will  show  his  country- 
men that  the  politician  can  be  lost  in  the  patriot.  He  "will 
not  give  up  to  party  what  was  meant  for  mankind."  He  will 


17 

not  suffer  this  Union,  to  be  divided  by  the  sword,  nar 
allow  his  great  abilities  to  be  exerted  against  the  interests  of 
his  country.  He  will  prove  to  the  world  that  his  patriotism  is 
as  exalted  and  pure  as  his  genius  is  great  and  "irrepressible." 
(Applause.) 

Our  friends  in  each  section  of  the  country  are  laboring 
under  misapprehension  of  the  feelings  and  intentions  of  each 
other. 

I  know  our  Northern  people  well  ;  they  are  not  disunionists, 
nor  enemies  of  the  South.  They  are  obstinate  when  struggling 
for  a  principle,  as  they  did  for  the  right  of  petition.  I  know 
that  many  patriotic  men  were  misunderstood  when  that  ques- 
tion was  agitating  Congress,  as  they  are  misunderstood  to-dav. 

There  are  a  few  men  at  the  North  who  wish  for  disunion- 
there  are  also  a  few  at  the  South  who  prefer  it.  To  such  in- 
sane people  I  have  no  appeals  to  make.  There  are  a  few  at 
the  North  who  would  dissolve  the  Union  if  a  Slave  State  were 
admitted — there  were  a  few  at  the  South  who  wished  to  dis- 
solve the  Union  because  California  came  in  as  a  Free  State. 
Let  them  be  pitied  and  forgiven  ;  they  are  principally  boys  ;  if 
they  stay  at  Jericho  till  their  beards  be  grown,  they  will  re- 
pent their  folly.  (Applause  and  laughter.) 

Fellow-citizens  of  California,  let  us  to-day  send  a  cheerful 
message  to  the  patriots  on  the  other  side,  who  will  be  anima- 
ted to  renewed  hope  by  our  conduct.  Let  us  tell  our  brethren 
there  that  we  came  from  all  the  States,  and  from  all  parts  of 
the  world  and  among  us  there  is  no  feeling  of  treason  to  the 
Union.  Let  us  warn  those  in  power  to  act  with  justice,  for- 
bearance and  generosity.  Let  us  remind  them  that  no  war  can 
come  which  will  not  find  brother  destroying  brother,  and 
fathers  fighting  against  their  own  children.  Let  us  remind 
these  in  the  majority  that  their  duty  is  to  deal  with  justice,  kind- 
ness and  brotherly  love.  Let  us  remind  those  who  are  discon- 
tented, that  one  of  our  early  Presidents  inculcated  upon  his 
countrymen  that  "absolute  acquiescence  in  the  decision  of  the 
majority  was  the  vital  principles  of  Republics,  from  which 
is  no-  appeal  but  to  force,  the  vital  principle  and  immediate 
parent  of  despotism."  Let  us  bid  them,  if  they  are  dissatisfied, 
to  come  to  us.  We  have  suns  shining  here  in  glorious  majesty, 
compared  to  which  their  brightest  elsewhere  "pale  their  inef- 
fectual fires."  We  have  land  enough  and  room  for  all.  They 
will  come  to  a  land  of  life,  energy  and  hope.  Though  far 
away,  we  have  not  left  our  memories  or  principles  behind  us. 
The  22d  of  February,  and  the  4th  of  Julv  are  memorable  and 
2 


18 

glorious  days  on  the  distant  Pacific  coast,  Let  us  tell  them  we 
entered  into  the  Union  to  remain  in  it  FOREVER  ;  that  we  would 
as  soon  think  of  taking  a  constellation  from  the  firmanent,  and 
bringing  about  universal  ruin,  "the  wreck  of  matter,  and  the 
crush  of  worlds,"  as  to  think  of  snatching  the  star  of  Califor- 
nia from  the  constellation  that  adorns  our  national  flag.  (Ap- 
plause.) 

California,  as  part  of  the  Union — the  Union  consolidated  by 
Washington — has  a  glorious  destiny  before  her.  She  is  head- 
ing the  columns  of  civilization.  Under  the  flag  of  our  Union, 
that  patriots  lived  to  honor  and  died  to  defend,  she  is  spread- 
ing civilization  to  the  remotest  ends  of  the  earth.  China  and 
Japan,  and  the  distant  islands  of  the  sea,  are  opening  their 
ports  to  our  commerce,  and  will,  ere  long,  feel  the  benign  influ- 
ence of  Christianity.  Some  of  us  will  live  to  see  the  day 
when  the  heart  cheering  music  of  Yankee  Doodle  shall  be 
heard  in  the  palace  of  the  Tycoon,  and  shall  only  be  silenced 
that  the  songs  of  Zion  may  be  sung.  (Applause.) 

I  turn  from  the  heart-sickening  picture  of  what  California 
would  be,  as  the  fragment  of  a  once  great  and  powerful  nation, 
rent  with  civil  war,  oppressed  by  standing  armies  and  orders 
of  nobility,  a  prey  to  any  powerful  enemy,  ground  down  by 
onerous  taxation,  overwhelmed  with  evils  that  fill  the  imagin- 
ation with  horror. 

But  no,  it  cannot  be !  I  trust  to  the  good  sense  of  the 
American  people,  under  the  guidance  of  that  Almighty  Being 
who  sent  Washington  to  lead  our  people  to  liberty  and  union. 
He,  without  whose  knowledge  not  even  a  sparrow  falleth  to 
the  ground,  will  not  allow  the  angry  passions  of  man  to  crush 
the  hopes  of  millions  at  home,  who  are  inheritors  of  our  bles- 
sings, and  millions  abroad,  animated  by  our  exami  le,  striving 
for  emancipation. 

We  shall  soon  be  united  by  iron  bands,  indissolubly,  with 
the  Eastern  States.  After  a  few  months,  the  clouds,  I  trust, 
will  have  passed  away,  "in  the  deep  bosom  of  the  ocean  buried;" 
and  we  shall  be  for  ages  to  come,  the  most  "magnificent  specta- 
cle of  human  happiness"  ever  beheld  by  man.  (Applause.) 

We  shall  still  be  a  united,  happy  and  prosperous  people. 
Our  valleys,  returning  rich  rewards  to  industry,  shall  laugh 
and  sing  ;  the  glad  songs  of  peace  shall  be  heard  in  the  land  ; 
our  commerce,  under  this  star  spangled  banner,  (pointing  to 
the  flag,)  shall  whiten  every  ocean  ;  and  the  dying  patriot,  on 
land  and  sea — 


19 

"  Shall  look  at  once  to  Heaven  and  thee, 
And  smile  to  see  thy  splendor  fly, 
In  vriumph  o'er  his  closing  eye." 

(Great  Applause.) 

The  Chairman  now  introduced  to  the  meeting  the  vocal 
association  known  as  "  The  Twelve,"  who  sang  the  national 
anthem,  "  America."  Programmes  containing  this  and  other 
patriotic  songs,  were  thrown  out  from  the  platform,  and  dis- 
tributed among  the  multitude.  The  following  is  the  anthem  : 

AMERICA. 

My  country,  'tis  of  thee, 
Sweet  land  of  liberty, 

Of  thee  I  sing,- 
Land  where  my  fathers  died, 
Land  of  the  pilgrim's  pride, 
From  every  mountain  side 

L*st  freedom  ring. 

My  native  country,  thee — 
Land  of  the  noble,  free — 

Thy  name — I  love  ; 
I  love  thy  rocks  and  rills, 
Thy  woods  and  templed  hills  ; 
My  heart  with  rapture  thrills 

Like  that  above. 

Let  music  swell  the  breeae, 
And  ring  from  all  the  trees 

Sweet  freedom's  song ; 
Let  mortal  tongues  awake ; 
Let  all  that  breathe  partake ; 
Let  rocks  their  silence  break, — 

The  sound  prolong. 

Our  fathers'  God,  to  thee, 
Author  of  liberty, 

To  ±66  we  sing; 
Long  may  our  land  be  bright 
With  freedom's  holy  light; 
Protect  us  by  thy  might, 

Great  God,  our  King. 

The  meeting  joined   in  with  the  choir  and  at  the  close  gave 
three  hearty  rounds  of  applause. 

Judge  LAKE  being  introduced,  spoke  as  follows  : 
Judge  Lake's  Speech, 

FELLOW  CITIZENS  : — Never  has  this  anniversary  been  cele- 
brated under  circumstances  so  extraordinary  as  those  under 


20 

which  we  are  to-day  called  together.  Heretofore,  this  sacred 
day,  throughout  the  length  and  breadth  of  the  American  Union, 
has  ever  been  devoted  to  joyful  congratulations  of  a  happy  and 
united  people,  for  the  blessings  of  liberty  and  Union  earned 
and  bequeathed  to  us  by  him  who  was  "First  in  war,  first  in 
peace,  and  first  in  the  hearts  of  his  countrymen.'"' 

What  day  more  appropriate  to  recall  the  sufferings — the 
perils — the  great  deeds  by  and  through  which  our  liberties 
were  achieved,  and  our  independence  secured — to  speak  of  the 
wisdom  of  our  fathers  in  establishing  the  Constitution  under 
which  we  live — of  the  personal  and  individual  liberty  it  secured 
and  which  we  enjoy — to  manifest  the  pardonable  pride  we  feel 
in  our  rapid  growth  as  a  nation,  and  the  respect  which  our 
greatness  and  power  have  inspired  throughout  the  world. 

These  are  the  thoughts  that  were  wont  to  gladden  our  hearts 
on  this  natal  day — that  were  wont  to  inspire  us  with  patriotic 
love  for  the  American  Union — to  call  forth  our  solemn  vows 
to  preserve  that  Union  and  the  Constitution  on  which  it  rests, 
and  to  transmit  them,  unimpaired  to  our  children,  even  as  they 
have  been  handed  down  to  us. 

Far  different  reflections  oppress  us  to-day.  The  Constitution 
of  our  great  American  Union,  under  which  so  many  millions 
have  lived  prosperous  and  happy — the  best  Constitution  ever 
devised  by  the  wisdom  of  man  for  the  government  of  a  free 
people — is  threatened  with  destruction. 

In  the  midst  of  peace,  and  plenty  and  unexampled  prosperity 
and  freedom,  discontent  has  assumed  the  proportions  of  open 
rebellion,  and  it  may  be,  of  successful  revolution. 

All  this  has  happened  so  suddenly,  so  unexpectedly,  as,  for 
the  time,  to  paralyze  every  arm  and  limb  of  the  Government. 

This  is  not  the  time  nor  place  to  argue  against  the  folly  and 
madness  which  rules  the  hour,  in  those  States  that  have  at- 
tempted to  throw  off  their  allegiance  to  the  Constitution  ;  nor 
to  persuade  them  that  they  are  flying  to  evils,  compared  to 
which,  those  of  which  they  complain,  are  positive  and  substan- 
tial blessings.  (Applause.) 

When  passion  has  exhausted  itself  and  reason  returns,  if  that 
day  shall  ever  arrive,  none  will  more  surely  realize  the  crimi- 
nal folly  of  their  present  movements  than  those  engaged  in 
them. 

Nor  will  I  stop  to  combat  the  fancy,  that  a  State  has  a  right 
under  the  Constitution,  to  withdraw  from  the  Confederacy. 
The  mind  that  can  seriously  contend  for  such  right,  will  receive 


21 

little  credit  for  sincerity  or  intelligence,  in  the  records  of  im- 
partial history,  (applause.) 

Our  purpose  here  to-day  is  to  speak,  so  far  as  our  numbers 
and  character  empower  us  to  speak,  for  the  people  and  State  of 
California.  And  what  shall  we  say  for  ourselves  and  for  our 
State  ?  And  why  does  it  become  necessary  for  us  to  speak  at 
all  ?  And  how  does  it  happen  that  the  loyalty  of  our  people 
to  the  Constitution  and  the  Union  has  ever  been  called  in 
question?  We  have  no  grievances.  We  have  no  complaints 
of  mis-government.  Taxes  do  not  impoverish  us.  Unjust  laws 
do  not  oppress  us.  We  love  the  Constitution — we  love  the 
Union — we  love  the  glorious  flag  of  our  Union,  (applause.) 
Yet ,  notwithstanding  the  undoubted  loyalty  of  this  State,  it 
has  been  asserted  that,  in  case  any  considerable  number  of  the 
disaffected  States  should  make  good  their  pretensions  to  an 
independent  political  existence,  California  will  also  abjure  her 
allegiance  and  set  up  for  herself  as  a  Pacific  Republic.  ("No 
never.''') 

We  are  here  to-day  to  repel  this  foul  slander  and  libel  on  our 
loyalty  and  our  patriotism,  (applause.)  We  are  here  to-day 
to  pledge  our  devotion  to  the  Constitution  and  to  the  Union 
— to  avow  our  unalterable  will  and  determination  to  support 
that  Constitution  and  the  flag  of  our  Union  under  any  and  all 
circumstances,  as  we  demand  they  shall  protect  us.  We  are 
here  to  avow  and  declare  that  whoever  may  be  the  Chief 
Executive  under  the  Constitution — whether  the  man  of  our 
choice  or  not — we  will  stand  by  and  support  him  and  the 
Government,  as  good  loyal  citizens,  in  the  constitutional  dis- 
charge of  the  duties  of  his  high  office,  (cheers.) 

That  these  expressions  may  be  so  emphatic  as  not  to  be  mis- 
understood either  at  home  or  abroad,  I  am  instructed  to  submit 
in  behalf  of  the  Committee  a  series  of  resolutions  : 

[  It  is  proper  to  state  that  Mr.  Hawes  the  chairman  of  the 
committee  is  unavoidably  absent  from  this  meeting.] 

RESOLUTIONS, 

We,  the  people  of  the  city  and  county  of  San  Francisco,  as- 
sembled in  mass  meeting,  on  the  22d  day  of  February,  A.  D., 
1861,  removed  as  we  are  from  the  scene  of  our  National  distur- 
bances, and  representing  all  parts  of  our  common  "country,  for 
the  purpose  of  expressing  our  devotion  and  firm*adherance  to 
the  Federal  Union,  as  well  as  our  heartfelt  desire  for  the  res- 
toration of  Peace  and  Union  to  the  whole  country,  as  the 


22 

deliberate  and  undivided  sentiment  of  this  meeting  do  RESOLVE 
as  follows  : 

1.  That  we  do  hereby  declare  our  unalterable  attachment  to 
the  Federal  Union  of  the  United  States  ;  that   we  regard  its 
continuance  and  the  maintenance  of  our  common  Government 
as  the  primary  object  of  patriotic  desire,  as  the  main  pillar  in 
the  edifice  of  our  independence,  the  support  of  our  tranquility 
at  home,  and  the  guaranty  of  peace  as  well  as  our  National  and 
individual  respectability  and  security  abroad. 

2.  That,  by  the  adoption  of  the  Constitution  of  the  United 
States,  our   Government  was  created  and  established  of  the 
whole  people  of  the  United  States  ;  that  the  Constitution  and 
laws  made  in  pursuance  thereof  are  the  supreme  law  of  the 
land.     That  under  the  Constitution,  and  in  conformity  with  it, 
there  exists  no  power  on  the  part  of  the  government  of  a  State 
of  the  Union,  or  the  people  of  a  State  to  secede  from,  or  in  any 
manner  to  obstruct  the  operation  of  the  General  Government 
under  any  circumstances  whatever. 

3.  That  the  people  of  California  regarding  the  preservation 
of  the  Union  of  all  the  States  composing  our  common  country 
and  the  maintenance  of  domestic  peace,  as  objects  of  the  first 
political  importance,  will  acquiesce  in  any  honorable  plan  for 
the  adjustment  of  existing  differences,  the  security  of  the  rights 
of  all  the  States,  and  the  re-establishment  of  Constitutional 
order  where  it  has  been  disturbed,  or  wholly  interrupted. 

4.  If,  however,  against  the  hopes  and  prayers  of  the  country, 
one  or  more   States  should  secede   from   the   Union,   effecting 
their  final  separation,  the  State  of  California,  should  and  will, 
neverthless,  cling  to  the  Union,  with  the  States  that  adhere, 
and  in  that  event,  or  in  the  happy  event  of  restored  peace  and 
unity,  she  will  in  all  good  faith  and  loyalty  recognise  and 
discharge  every  obligation  enjoined  upon  her  by  the  Constitu- 
tion of  our  country.     That  California  entirely  repudiates  the 
project  of  a  Pacific  Republic   as  visionary,  mischievous,  and 
impossible — that  wherever  the  Union  and  the  Constitution  are, 
there  is  the  ark  of  our  covenant ;  where  the  flag  of  our  Union 
is  unfurled,  there  is  our  country. 

5.  Finally,  Resolved,  That  the  true  attitude  of  the  people  of 
California  at  this  time  of  trouble,  is  that  of  fraternal  kindness 
towards  the  people  of  all  the  States,  and  her  honor  and  inter- 
ests alike  demand  of  her  to  do  all  in  her  power  to  bring  about 
harmony  and  re  union  among  the  people  of  the  whole  country. 

The  resolutions  were  unanimously  adopted  amid  much  en- 
thusiasm. 


23 

"The  Twelve"  then  sang  "The  Star  Spangled  Banner,"  in 
which  the  meeting  enthusiastically  joined.  The  excitement 
was  now  at  its  height,  and  no  description  could  do  justice  to 
it.  The  chorus  of  hundreds  of  voices  carried  the  hearts  of  the 
multitude  by  storm  ;  continuous  cheers  and  applause  followed 
each  verse ;  and  at  the  close  a  succession  of  tremendous  cheers 
were  given  for  the  ''  Union." 

Col.  J.  B.  Crockett  was  then  introduced  to  the  meeting  and 
made  the  following  address. 

Col.  Crockett's  Speech. 

FELLOW  CITIZENS  : — Amid  the  gloom  which  surrounds  our 
common  country,  and  which  threatens  to  envelope  in  utter  dark- 
ness all  that  is  dear  to  our  hearts  as  citizens  of  this  great  Re- 
public, it  is  at  least  some  consolation  to  know  that  the  22d  of 
February  is  still  left  to  us.  However  much  the  storms  may 
rage — however  violently  the  political  elements  may  be  agitated 
— however  greatly  the  fraternal  ties  which  bound  us  together 
as  a  great  and  glorious  people  may  be  weakened,  and  even 
though  they  be  sundered  in  twain,  we  can  never  forget,  and 
our  children's  children  should  not  be  allowed  to  forget,  that 
this  is  the  natal  day  of  that  great,  wise,  exalted  and  noble 
Statesman,  who,  above  all  others  laid  the  foundations  of  our 
liberty,  and  made  us  a  happy  prosperous  and  united  people. 
On  this,  the  anniversary  of  his  birth,  surrounded  as  we  are 
with  the  elements  of  strife  and  discord — listening  as  we  do 
with  straining  ears  and  with  palpitating  hearts  for  the  fearful 
sounds  of  civil  war  and  fraternal  strife,  it  is  eminently  proper 
that  on  this  the  birth  day  of  Washington,  we  should  bow  our 
heads  in  filial  reverence  before  his  great  name,  and  seek  to 
draw  from  his  precepts  and  example  fresh  lessons  of  patriotism 
and  of  duty.  Here,  whilst  doing  homage  to  his  memory,  we 
should  renew  our  fealty  to  the  glorious  Union  which  he  foun- 
ded, and  to  the  gallant  flag  which  is  the  emblem  of  that  Union. 
In  all  civilized  nations  the  opinions  and  advice  of  experienced, 
sagacious  and  well  tried  statesmen  command  the  affectionate 
respect  of  the  people.  What  other  nation  under  the  providence 
of  God  was  ever  blessed  with  such  a  counsellor  as  Washington? 
And,  I  regret  to  add,  my  friends,  what  other  nation  ever  need- 
ed such  a  counsellor  so  much  as  ours  in  its  present  emergency.  ? 
The  great  statesman  of  Massachusetts,  who  in  his  day  was  so 


24 

illustrious  in  his  defense  of  the  Constitution  and  the  Union, 
has  said  in  words  not  less  true  than  beautiful :  "  The  character 
of  Washington  is  among  the  most  cherished  contemplations  of 
my  life.  It  is  a  fixed  star  in  the  firmament  of  great  names, 
shining,  without  twinkling  or  obscuration,  with  clear,  steady, 
beneficent  light.  It  is  associated  and  blended  with  all  our  re- 
flections on  those  things  which  are  near  and  dear  to  me.  If 
we  think  of  the  independence  of  our  country,  we  think  of  him 
whose  efforts  were  so  prominent  in  achieving  it ;  if  we  think  of 
the  Constitution  which  is  over  us,  we  think  of  him  who  did  so 
much  to  establish  it  and  whose  administration  of  its  powers  is 
acknowledged  to  be  a  model  for  his  successors.  If  we  think  of 
glory  in  the  field,  of  wisdom  in  the  cabinet,  of  the  purest  patriot- 
ism, of  the  highest  integrity,  public  and  private,  of  morals  with- 
out a  stain,  of  religious  feeling  without  intolerance,  and  with- 
out extravagance,  the  august  figure  of  Washington  presents  it- 
self as  the  personation  of  all  these  ideas."  This  is  the  estimate 
in  which  the  character  of  Washington  was  held,  by  one  who 
was  himself  among  the  most  illustrious  of  our  statesmen.  It 
behooves  us,  therefore,  at  a  time  of  peril  like  this,  when  our 
whole  nation,  from  its  centre  to  its  circumference,  is  shaken 
with  intestine  broils,  to  ponder  well  the  parting  advice  of  this 
exalted  patriot  to  his  countrymen.  When  about  to  retire  into 
private  life,  his  great  heart  was  filled  with  apprehensions  as  to 
the  perpetuity  of  the  Union  ;  and  in  his  farewell  address  he 
foreshadows,  as  if  with  the  tongue  of  prophecy,  and  with  an  in- 
spired wisdom,  the  causes  which  might  alienate  one  section 
from  another,  and  thus  sap  the  foundations  of  the  Union  itself. 
He  warns  us  against  characterizing  parties  by  geographical 
discriminations  ;  he  cautions  us  against  sectional  jealousies, 
and  exhorts  us  to  mutual  forbearance  and  concessions  ;  he  por- 
trays, as  if  with  a  pencil  of  light,  the  inestimable  value  of  the 
Federal  Union — its  absolute  necessity  to  our  domestic  quiet,  to 
our  national  security  and  honor,  to  our  prosperity  in  peace  and 
our  safety  in  war.  He  says  tons,  "it  is  of  infinite  moment, 
that  you  should  cherish  a  cordial,  habitual  and  immoveable  at- 
tachment to  it ;  accustoming  (yourselves  to  think  and  speak  of 
it  as  of  the  Palladium  of  your  political  safety  and  prosperity  ; 
watching  for  its  preservation  with  jealous  anxiety  ;  discounte- 
nancing whatever  may  suggest  even  a  suspicion  that  it  can  in 
any  event  be  abandoned,  and  indignantly  frowning  upon  the 
first  dawning  of  every  attempt  to  alienate  any  portion  of  our 
country  from  the  rest,  or  to  enfeeble  the  sacred  ties  which  now 
link  together  the  various  parts." 


25 

I  need  not  remind  you  how  flagrantly  this  wise  counsel  has 
been  disregarded — how  wantonly  we  have  trampled  in  the 
dust  those  solemn  admonitions — how  ignominiously  we  have 
strayed  from  the  obvious  path  of  patriotism  and  of  duty. — 
with  what  criminal  indifference  we-  have  watched  the  march 
of  events,  tending  towards  the  dismemberment  of  the  Union. 
No  word  of  mine  is  needed  to  remind  you  of  these  lamentable, 
but  solemn  truths.  Every  breeze  that  blows  from  the  Atlantic 
to  the  Pacific,  whispers  to  us  the  evidences  of  our  degeneracy 
from  the  high  standard  which  Washington  enjoined  ;  every 
mail  is  freighted  with  sad  recitals  of  fraternal  strife  ;  we  are 
daily  informed,  not  of  the  peaceful  triumphs  of  science  and  art 
— of  a  generous  rivalry  in  commercial  enterprise — of  a  kindly 
and  friendly  intercourse  between  neighboring  States  and  cities; 
but  we  are  told  of  the  marshaling  of  armies  for  a  fratricidal 
war — of  the  secession  of  States — of  unfurling  to  the  breeze 
other  flags  than  the  stars  and  stripes — of  acrimonious  debates 
in  our  National  Congress — of  sectional  parties  and  sectional 
strife — of  open  resistance  to  the  Constitution  and  laws,  and  of 
threatened  coercion  by  force  and  arms.  These  are  the  appall- 
ing recitals  which  fill  our  hearts  with  indefinable  terror,  and 
cause  us  to  listen  with  bated  breath  and  quickened  pulse,  for 
the  fearful  clang  of  arms,  wielded  in  a  fratricidal  war.  And 
is  this  to  be  the  inglorious  end  of  our  once  honored  and  much 
loved  Union  ?  Was  it  for  this  that  Washington  toiled  and 
fought  and  conquered  ?  Was  it  for  this  that  Bunker  Hill  was 
drenched  with  the  blood  of  patriots — that  Lexington,  Mon- 
mouth,  and  Brandywine  and  Yorktown  have  become  immortal  1 
Was  it  for  this  that  Hancock,  and  Jefferson,  and  Adams,  and 
Franklin  periled  their  lives  and  pledged  their  sacred  honor? 
Was  it  only  to  this  ignoble  end,  that  our  revolutionary  sires 
traversed,  in  mid  winter,  with  bleeding  feet,  the  frozen  plains 
of  New  Jersey  ?  Is  our  noble  Declaration  of  Independence  to 
be  hereafter  sneered  at,  as  only  the  dream  of  some  Utopian  phi- 
losopher ?  Is  our  boasted  republic,  our  model  form  of  govern- 
ment, to  become  only  a  mockery  and  a  bye-word  among  the  na- 
tions of  the  world  ?  Is  our  national  flag,  which  has  waved 
over  so  many  victorious  fields,  to  be  trampled  in  the  dust,  or 
be  unfurled  only  as  the  standard  of  a  divided  and  distracted 
country  ?  Are  half  its  stars  and  stripes  to  be  erased,  and  its 
ample  folds  curtailed?  Is  it  no  longer  to  float  over  the  ships 
of  a  great  and  united  republic,  and  from  the  ramparts  of  all 
our  forts  from  Maine  to  Texas — from  Georgia  to  California? 
In  other  word?,  is  our  plan  of  government  to  prove  a  miserable 


26 

failure  ?  Are  we  to  be  thus  humiliated  in  the  eyes  of  all  civil- 
ized nations?  Are  we  to  be  ruined  in  fortune  and  bankrupt 
in  reputation  ?  Are  we  to  be  plunged  into  civil  war  and  suffer 
all  its  indescribable  horrors  ?  These  are  the  momentous  ques- 
tions which  the  American  people  are  to  answer  ;  and  he  who 
answers  them  lightly  ;  who  prefers  his  party  to  his  country  ; 
who  stickles  for  a  dogma,  when  the  Union  is  in  peril ;  who 
struggles  for  an  abstraction,  at  the  expense  of  civil  war ;  who 
refuses  to  concede  anything  for  the  sake  of  peace  ;  who  forgets 
our  past  history  and  is  indifferent  to  our  future  renown  and 
greatness,  such  a  man,  if  there  be  any  such,  will  commit  a  high 
crime  against  our  common  humanity,  and  is  unworthy  of  the 
honorable  title  of  an  American  citizen.  The  peril  in  which  we 
are  involved  ;  the  momentous  issues  to  be  decided  by  the  peo- 
ple, are  far  above  all  mere  party  names  and  beyond  the  grasp 
of  pot-house  politicians.  They  transcend  in  importance,  and  in 
dignity,  any  political  or  social  problem  ever  before  presented  to 
the  civilized  world.  They  involve  questions  of  paramount  im- 
portance not  only  to  us  individually  and  collectively,  in  our 
political,  social  and  business  relations,  but  of  vast  concern  to 
the  cause  of  humanity  and  freedom  throughout  the  world  ;  for 
disguise  it  as  we  may,  gloss  it  over  with  whatever  cunning 
sophistry  you  please,  it  is  not  to  be  denied  that  if  this  Union 
be  dissolved,  its  broken  and  dishonored  fragments  will  pro- 
claim throughout  all  time,  man's  incapacity  for  self-govern- 
ment. If  so  grand  a  structure  as  this,  reared  at  so  great  cost  of 
toil  and  treasure,  founded  by  great  statesmen,  and  baptized  in 
the  blood  of  the  purest  patriots ;  if  this  splendid  creation  of 
the  genius  of  Washington,  Jefferson,  Franklin,  Adams,  Henry, 
Jay,  Hamilton  and  others  of  their  kind,  is  now  to  fall  to  pieces 
of  its  own  weight ;  if  the  glorious  promise  of  its  early  days  is 
to  end  in  strife  and  civil  war  ;  if  its  proud  columns  are  to  be 
ruthlessly  broken,  its  beautiful  proportions  marred  ;  if  it  is  so 
soon  to  crumble  into  ignoble  dust,  it  will  be  in  vain  that  future 
philosophers  and  statesmen  will  seek  to  erect  a  new  temple  to 
freedom  on  its  ruins  ;  oppressed  nations  may  rise  against  their 
rulers  ;  another  Washington  may  bless  mankind  with  his  au- 
gust presence  ;  another  Henry  with  his  thrilling  oratory,  may 
move  the  hearts  and  nerve  the  arms  of  the  multitude  ;  but  in 
all  the  long  future,  no  other  Government  like  this  will  arise  to 
dignify,  elevate  and  bless  mankind.  If  any  such  attempt  be 
made,  the  future  statesman  will  point  to  the  sad  historic  page 
which  chronicles  our  downfall,  and  will  say  to  his  countrymen, 
"  Man  is  not  capable  of  self-government ;  Ecce  signumf"  If 


our  Government  goes  down,  this  will  be  the  mournful  epitaph 
inscribed  upon  its  tomb. 

In  view,  my  fellow-citizens,  of  these  solemn  and  momentous 
truths,  we  have  met  here  on  this  consecrated  day,  hallowed 
with  so  many  recollections  of  the  past,  to  proclaim  to  the  world, 
and  especially  to  our  countrymen,  that  whatever  others  may 
do — whatever  sacrilegious  leet  may  profane  the  temple  of  lib- 
erty— whatever  violent  hands  may  seek  to  demolish  its  columns 
— whatever  suicidal  act  of  folly  rash  men  may  do,  in  the  mad- 
ness which  rules  the  hour,  we  at  least  are  true  to  the  Union, 
and  will  adhere  to  it  through  sunshine  and  through  storm. 

But,  my  friends,  this  Union  was  originally  founded  on  a  com- 
munity of  social  and  political  interests.  Our  Constitution  is 
the  result  of  mutual  concession  and  toleration.  It  can  exist 
on  no  other  principle  than  that  of  brotherly  kindness  and  for- 
bearance. When  the  Convention  that  framed  the  Constitution 
had  completed  its  labors,  Washington,  who  presided  over  its 
deliberations,  was  deputed  to  present  the  Constitution  to  Con- 
gress and  the  country.  In  performing  that  duty  he  said  "  In 
all  our  deliberations  on  this  subject,  we  kept  steadily  in  view, 
that  which  appears  to  us  the  greatest  interest  to  every  true 
American,  the  consolidation  of  our  Union,  in  which  is  involved 
our  prosperity,  felicity,  safety,  perhaps  our  national  existence. 
This  important  consideration,  seriously  and  deeply  impressed 
upon  our  minds,  led  each  State  in  the  Convention  to  be  less 
rigid  upon  points  of  inferior  magnitude  than  might  have  been 
otherwise  expected  ;  and  thus  the  Constitution,  which  we  now 
present,  is  the  result  of  a  spirit  of  amity  and  of  that  mutual 
deference  and  concession,  which  the  peculiarity  of  our  political 
situation  rendered  indispensable." 

My  fellow-citizens,  here  was  the  ground  work  of  the  Consti- 
tution and  the  Union,  and  in  our  whole  history,  there  has  never 
been  a  period  which,  so  imperatively  as  the  present,  demanded 
a  liberal  exercise  of  that  "  spirit  of  amity,  and  of  that  mutual 
deference  and  concession "  to  which  Washington  referred. 
Whilst,  therefore,  we  avow  in  explicit  and  unmistakable  terms 
our  firm  devotion  to  the  Federal  Union,  and  our  loyalty  to  the 
Constitution  and  laws,  let  us  at  the  same  time  remember,  that 
without  that  "  spirit  of  amity,"  and  "  mutual  deference  and 
concession  "  to  which  I  adverted,  the  unhappy  breach  which 
has  begun,  may  grow  wider  and  deeper,  until  at  last  it  may 
engulph  in  a  common  ruin,  all  that  we  boast  of  as  American 
citizens,  and  all  that  is  dear  to  us  in  life.  We  all  have  a  com- 
mon sun,  all  that  we  boast  of  as  American  citizens,  and  all 


that  is  dear  to  us  in  life.  "We  all  have  a  common  stake  in  this 
solemn  business.  Let  each  one  of  us  do  his  duty  in  this  crisis, 
as  he  would  answer  to  his  country,  his  conscience  and  his  God, 
and  in  despite  of  the  perils  which  surround  us,  we  may  yet  be 
able  to  say  in  the  future  with  conscious  pride  : 

"  Still  one  great  clime,  in  full  and  free  defiance, 
Yet  rears  her  crest,  unconquered  and  sublime." 

(Applause.) 

"  The  Flag  of  our  Union"  was  sung  by  the  "  Twelve,"  and  as 
before,  the  assemblage  mingled  their  voices  in  the  great  anthem. 
A  letter  was  read  from  Samuel  M.  Wilson,  Esq.,  who  had 
been  expected  to  speak  on  this  occasion  but  was  too  ill  to  ap- 
pear.   It  was  as  follows  : 

SAN  FRANCISCO,  Feb.  22,  1861. 

Messrs.  H.    F.  Teschemacher,  and  others,    Committee    of    Arrange- 
ments, &c. 

GENTLEMEN  : — I  learn  from  the  morning  papers  that  my  name  is  in 
the  programme  of  the  Union  Mass  Meeting  for  a  speech.  Having  been 
absent  from  my  office  yesterday  all  day,  I  did  not  receive  your  invita- 
tion, and  at  this  late  hour  must  substitute  this  note  for  the  speech. 
Whilst  I  would  freely,  at  all  times,  and  in  all  places,  "  give  expressions 
of  loyalty  and  attachment  to  the  Union  and  its  perpetuity,"  upon  this 
occasion  the  time  will  be  more  ably  and  satisfactorily  occupied  by  the 
distinguished  and  able  gentlemen  who  will  be  present  with  you,  and 
address  the  meeting.  It  is  to  be  earnestly  hoped  that  there  are  but  few 
Californians  whose  prayers  are  not  most  fervent  for  "  the  Union,  now 
and  forever,  one  and  inseparable." 

Respectfully  your  obedient  servant, 
S.  M.  WILSON. 

The  band  then  played  "  Yankee  Doodle,"  when  after  three 
times  three  cheers  were  given  for  the  Union,  the  meeting  ad- 
journed, and  forming  in  sections,  twelve  deep,  marched  in  solid 
phalanx  through  several  streets,  cheering  tremendously  for 
every  American  flag  under  which  they  passed,  and  returning  to 
the  City  Hall,  were  there  disbanded. 


29 
Impromptu  Meeting  at  the  City  Hall. 

The  ardor  of  patriotism,  however,  was  not  yet  fully  satisfied. 
They  immediately  reorganized  into  an  impromptu  meeting  in 
front  of  the  City  Hall,  where  able  speeches  were  made,  amid 
enthusiastic  cheering,  by  several  gentlemen.  Among  these, 
Mr.  Worthington,  a  lawyer,  late  from  Mariposa,  who  being 
called  out,  said  in  substance  : 

Mr.  Worthington's  Speech. 

The  present  day,  fellow  citizens,  is  the  most  important  that 
has  ever  dawned  upon  Americans.  Of  all  the  hopes  and 
prayers — of  all  the  blood  and  treasure — of  all  the  grandeur 
and  excellence  of  a  great  and  proud  nation,  we  are  assembled 
to  sum  up  and  reckon  the  amount  and  value.  The  birthday  of 
Washington  has,  up  to  this  time,  been  considered  a  great 
stand-point  whence  an  American  citizen  might  proudly  survey 
the  creation  of  the  noblest  and  freest  system  of  government 
that  human  foresight  ever  devised.  (Applause.)  It  comes 
upon  us  now,  and  we  may  not  tell  whether  upon  the  eastern 
range  of  the  Confederacy  the  counsels  of  the  "  Father  of  his 
country"  are  heeded  or  forever  obliterated  amid  the  horrors 
of  fratricidal  war.  The  establishment  of  this  Goverment, 
which  has  settled  up,  and  made  to  prosper  and  grow  great,  an 
entire  continent,  has  conferred  imperishable  honor  upon  the 
Father  of  the  Republic  ;  but  the  day  is  upon  us,  so  long  pre- 
dicted, when  our  priceless  legacy  is  to  be  preserved  or  squan- 
dered. So  far  as  California — the  dearest  bought  of  all  the 
sisters  of  the  Union — is  concerned,  the  voice  of  to-day  is  satis- 
factory to  every  lover  of  the  land  of  Washington.  ( Applause.) 
Let  us  be  justly  proud  of  the  performance  of  our  duty  this  day, 
and  pray  that  upon  a  recurrence  of  this  great  natal  day  the 
hopes  and  aspirations  that  have  just  now  been  built  up  within 
us  may  be  answered,  and  there  may  -come  an  abundant  harvest. 
God  grant  that  when  next  we  commemorate  Washington's 
birthday,  we  may  be  able  to  say, 

"  Danger's  troubled  night  is  o'er, 
And  the  star  of  peace  returned." 

(Great  applause.) 

Mr.  Worthington's  remarks,  of  which  we  have  given  but  a 
synopsis,  were  received  with  great  favor. 


Harvey  S,  Brown's  Speech. 

While  Mr.  Worthington  was  speaking  District  Attorney 
Brown  was  observed  in  the  crowd,  and  he  was  immediately 
surrounded  by  parties  who  wished  him  to  speak.  He  declined 
but  they  were  not  in  a  mood  to  be  put  off  thus ,  they  insisted, 
and  with  good  natured  force  presented  Mr,  Brown  at  the 
window  just  as  the  last  named  speaker  closed.  He  said  : 

FRIENDS  AND  FELLOW- CITIZENS  : — I  have  been  captured  by 
these  Union  men  and  they  require  me  to  deliver  a  speech  ;  this  I 
cannot  do  to-day — my  heart  is  too  full  for  words,  and  yet  I  will 
say  that  you  have  this  day  performed  a  work — a  noble  work — 
men's  work — a  work  in  which  the  heart  led  and  the  head  fol- 
lowed— a  work  that  you  may  be  proud  of,  and  that  your  pos- 
terity will  be  proud  of.  You  have  solemnly  proclaimed  to  the 
world  that  you  love,  revere  and  will  obey  the  Constitution — 
that  you  are  loyal  to  the  General  Government  and  will  support 
and  defend  it.  (Applause.)  You  have  done  more — you  have 
crushed  out  that  vision  of  madmen — a  Pacific  Republic— -have 
put  your  iron  heel  upon  the  thorny  cactus  and  have  sent  the 
grizzly  bear  howling  back  to  the  chaparral  where  he  belongs. 
(Applause.)  You  have  said  no  bear  or  cactus  flag  for  us  ;  but 
give  us  the  stars  and  stripes — the  flag  of  Washington — that 
we  were  born  under,  that  we  have  lived  under,  and  will  die 
under !  (Applause.) 

No  tear  blots  the  page  of  the  record  upon  which  the  Recording 
Angel  enter  these,  your  vows.  No,  but  there  is  joy  upon  the 
face  of  the  celestial  messenger — joy  in  heaven  as  among  men  ! 
(Applause.)  You  are  happy — I  am  happy — everybody  is  happy ! 
And  why  should  we  not  be  so  with  God's  sun  shining  upon  us  ; 
with  the  green  hills  about  us  ;  with  the  old  flag  everywhere 
floating  above  and  around  us,  and  with  our  duty  done?  (Cheers.) 

At  the  conclusion  of  Mr.  Brown's  speech,  the  French  Guards 
marched  up  and  saluted  the  assemblage. 

Supervisor  Biden  was  next  "called  out,"  and  spoke  in  sub- 
stance as  follows : 

Mr,  Biden's  Speech. 

FELLOW- CITIZENS  : — The  manner  of  my  presence  before  you 
in  the  capacity  of  a  speaker  is  patent  to  you  all.  I  illustrate 


31 

the  saying  that  "might  makes  right."  [The  speaker  had  been 
forcibly  presented  by  the  persons  near  the  window.]  After  the 
eloquence  and  patriotism  that  has  already  been  uttered,  and 
has  forever  hallowed  this  day  in  our  hearts,  it  would  be  idle 
to  hope  to  add  a  word.  I  only  essay — and  thank  God  for  the 
opportunity  ! — to  swell  the  chorus  of  our  people's  universal 
voice  in  behalf  of  the  Government  which  has  maintained  for 
us  "the  land  of  the  free  and  the  home  of  the  brave."  The 
doings  of  to-day — a  business  of  more  consequence  than  this 
people  or  this  generation  may  ever  again  have  a  share  in — 
will  forever  live  in  our  hearts,  and  form  a  bright  page  in  the 
annals  of  San  Francisco.  The  grand,  unanimous  sentiment 
pronounced  by  our  people  this  day  in  favor  of  the  Union  will 
be  seconded  throughout  the  State.  Of  all  the  rich  freight  that 
San  Francisco  has  vouchsafed  from  her  abundance,  never  has 
she  prepared  for  her  brethren  East  a  shipment  of  wealth  so 
great  as  has  been  made  up  on  this  great  ''steamer  day"  of  the 
whole  people.  The  wealth  of  the  great  heart  of  California 
goes  out  from  her  Golden  Gate,  and  she  bids  the  waters  of  the 
angry  sea  of  national  discord  to  divide,  that  she  may  bring 
safely  through  the  Ark  of  our  Covenant  the  sacred  Federal 
compact.  Have  you  seen  a  Secessionist  to-day — a  Pacific  Re- 
public man.  [Cries  of  "no,"  "no,"  l>no."]  Do  you  think  the 
pulse  of  California  beats  gratefully  and  proudly  and  regularly 
for  the  Constitution  and  the  whole  country?  [Cries  of  "yes," 
"yes."]  Why,  fellow-citizens,  of  all  the  proud  events  which  our 
city  and  State  can  boast,  the  work  of  to-day  is  incomparably 
the  grandest,  and  will,  I  believe,  be  imperishable.  [Applause.] 
The  issues  remain  not  with  us,  but  we  have  performed  a  duty, 
and  the  united  and  solemn  voice  of  California  is  formally  ad- 
dressed to  the  God  of  nations  that  He  will  preserve  us  a  pros- 
perous and  united  people.  It  is,  indeed,  most  tit,  and  we  may 
properly  indulge  the  belief  that  as  California  in  nowise  precip- 
itated the  present  discord,  she  may  now  exert  a  perceptible 
influence  in  allaying  it.  [Cheers.] 

Fellow-citizens  we  have  seen  a  celebration  to-day,  the  sight 
of  which  has  never  before  been  given  to  an  American  citizen. 
The  natal  day  of  Washington  had  never  before  such  signitican- 
cy  as  it  possesses  now.  It  never  came  in  so  good  a  time.  The 
spirit  of  Washington  and  of  '76  is  wanted  just  here  and  it  has 
pervaded  San  Francisco  and  all  California  this  day.  All 
classes  agree,  nativities  and  nationalities  have  vied  in  the 
march  of  patriotism.  [Applause.]  To  lend  us  hope  there 
bounds  to  us  across  the  continent  great  and  glorious  news  from 


32 

the  mother  of  Washington  and  the  mother  of  States.  [Ap- 
plause.] Virginia  stands  in  the  break.  The  dark  clouds  that 
of  late  have  overshadowed  our  political  and  soci;l  horizon, 
divide,  and  we  have  a  glimpse  of  Freedom'*  ensign,  without 
a  star  erased  or  diminished,  and  can  proudly  boast. 

"Thou  art  not  conquered. 

Beauty's  ensign  yet  is  crimson  in  thy  cheek  and  on  thy  lip, 
And  death's  pale  flag  has  not  advanced  there." 

After  Mr.  Biden's  speech,  which  waked  storms  of  applause, 
the  Hon.  R.  M.  Briggs  of  Amador  county,  spoke  for  an  hour 
from  the  inspiration  of  the  moment,  without  notes,  and  was 
voiciferously  cheered  by  the  large  meeting  which  stood  around 
him  and  listened  with  rapt  attention  to  his  eloquent  words- 

We  regret  that  we  cannot  give  even  a  synopsis  of  Mr. 
Briggs'  speech.  In  a  word,  it  was  a  thrilling  and  noble  effort 
worthy  the  day  and  occasion. 

At  the  close  of  Mr.  Briggs  speech,  Major  Ringgold  of  the 
United  States  Army,  proposed  the  toast  of  "The  Union,  now 
and  forever,"  which  called  forth  thunders  of  applause,  as  well 
for  the  giver  of  the  sentiment  as  for  the  sentiment  itself,  and 
then  the  assemblage  dispersed. 

It  is  only  necessary  to  add,  in  conclusion,  that  the  demon- 
stration was  one  befitting  the  day  and  the  occasion  which 
called  it  forth.  Never  in  San  Francisco,  has  a  more  enthusi- 
astic and  general  expression  been  made.  The  people  stood 
forth  in  their  might,  and  declared  in  sentiments  that  cannot  be 
mis-construed,  their  unalterable  attachment  to  the  Union  of 
the  United  States. 


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